Method of and apparatus for forming radially-corrugated disks



R. S. LEWIS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIALLY CORRUGATED DISKS Filed Dec. '7, 1920 April 20 1926. 1,581,488

BTQLJM ATTORNEY Patented A azo, 1926.

A ENT- OFFICE.

RALPH S.- LEWIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T STANDARD STEEL WHEEL & TIRE ARMOR COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING RADIALL' Y-CORRUGATED DISKS.

Application filed necember To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH S. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and'State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods'of and Apparatus for Forming Radially-Corrugated Disks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to disk steel wheels and has for its object to facilitate the production thereof.

The particular type of disk wheel involved is that shown and described in Reissue Patent No. 13,822 to Livingston, dated November 3, 1914, which is characterized by the presence of radial corrugations. Heretofore several operations were required to form these corrugations and one patentin I articular, namely No. 1,159,322, states that it is impossible to form all flutes or corrugations in one operation.

By means of a novel form of. die I have succeeded in producing the corrugations in a sin le operation, without either tearing or stretc ing the metal. This die in its preferred form is disclosed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig.1 shows a central cross-sectional view.

of the cooperating and die members in separated position,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the lower die member,

Fig. 3 shows apartial planview of the lower .die member,

Fig. 4 shows a plan View oi the blank from which the corrugated disk is formed,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the corrugated disk which enters into the construction of a vehicle wheel.

The die herein shown comprises an upper member A and a lower member B, the adjacent faces of which are provided with radial ribs 10 and channels 11. Theribs of one die member co-operate with the channels of the other member and are so constructed and proportioned that when closed there is a considerable clearance between the side walls of cooperating ribs and sufiicient clearance between the to and bottom faces as to allow the sheet meta ofthe desired gaugeto lie between.- The faces G'and D-of the-ribs 7, 1920. Serial No. 428,856.

and channels are inclined axially, being of less depth attheir inner ends than at their outer ends. This inclination is a gradual one and amounts to approximately 21 1000ths of an inch per inch of length for corrugations of 1 inch depth.

In operation a flat steel annular disk '12 such as shown in Fig. 4 is laid upon the bottom die member and the upper die memher is ressed down upon the same, said dies being eld in registering position by guides or pins 13. Owing to the axial inclinationof the opposite faces of the ribs and channels the pressure applied by the die members will act first upon the outer portion of the disk and will extend gradually in towards the center as the corrugations start to form.

This pressure will be exerted both radially radially corrugate as the dies move towards each-other. When the dies have completelyengaged the metal is 'i-roned smooth and forms a perfect corrugation without stretching the metal or in any wayvarying its.

thickness. When closed the horizontal ces of the ribs and channels are in contact with the metal but the verticalor side walls of the ribs do not touchthe metal. This clearance between the side walls of the ribs reduces friction and lessens the likelihood of straining or stretching themetal.v

The blank'or disk shown herein has 8.

corrugations.

diameter of 24 inches whereas the corrugated disk has a diameter of but 19% This difi'erencerepresents the While I show ribs or corrugations ofrectangular cross-section it is obvious that the shape of these corrugation may be varied.

The degree of axial inclination of the co-' operating faces of the die members specified herein varies with the depth of the corrugation, being less for shallow corrugations and more for deep corrugations. The important Y thing. to be considered in con- 7 a or three times.

nection with the present dies is to so incline the Working faces of the ribs and channels as to cause the metal to move inwardly in a radial direction simultaneously with the formation of the corrugations.

I find it advisable to carry out the forming operation by tripping the press two That is to say, instead of allowing'the dies to be pressed tightly together in one movement of the press I release the press momentarily once or twice during the operation of forming a disk in order to reduce the possibility of rupturing the metal.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The process of forming in a single operation a radially corrugated disk wheel for vehicles which consists in pressing a plane sheet metal disk between co-operating die members having radially extending ribs and channels whose opposed'faces are lnclmed so as to cause the metal to be drawn inwardly towards the'center simultaneously with the forming of the corrugations.

2. A. die for forming in a single operation a radially corrugated disk wheel for vehicles comprising co-operating members, each formed with radially extending ribs and the ribs of one die member will bottom on channels of the other die member.

3. A die for forming in a single operation a radially corrugated disk wheel for vehicles comprising co-operating die members, each formed with a central aperture and having radially extending ribs and channels, the ribs of one member entering the channels of the other member, the opposed faces of said ribs and channels being so inclined as to be of less height at their inner ends than at their outer ends.

4. A die for forming in a single operation a radially corrugated article from metal, comprising co-operating members, each having radially extending ribs and channels, the ribs of one member entering the channels of the other, and the opposed faces of said ribs and channels being inclined to each other so as to cause the metal to be drawn inwardly toward the center simultaneously with the formation of the corrugations.

5. A die for forming in a single operation a radially corrugated article from sheet metal, comprising co-operating members, each having radially extending ribs and channels, the ribs of one entering the channels of the other, said ribs and channels being inclined so as to be of less height at their inner ends than at their outer ends, whereby the sheet metal will be "drawn inwardly toward the center simultaneously with the formation of the corrugations.

. RALPH S. LEWIS. 

